‘I THOUGHT HEART ATTACKS ONLY HAPPENED TO THE ELDERLY’
Heart disease is the number one killer of Australian women.
Four times as many women die of heart disease as they do of breast cancer.
Here at The Hoopla, we don’t want to lose any of our precious readers to a disease that is largely preventable. That’s why we have joined the with the Heart Foundation’s GO RED FOR WOMEN campaign.
Here we share Dreena Lawrence-Gray’s story, whose phone call to her mother saved her life.
“As a busy working mum I admit I wasn’t taking time to look after myself. I was overweight, stressed and needed to set priorities and slow down. I always thought heart attacks happened to elderly people, but I was so wrong.
“I was alone when I first starting experiencing the warning signs. I bundled myself up and went to bed, thinking that might make me feel better, but I couldn’t rest so I called my mum. That call saved my life.
“My mum called an ambulance and came over right away to help. I don’t remember much of what happened, but I clearly remember being brought back to my hospital room after a stent was inserted in my blocked artery.
“My parents were waiting for me. I was overcome with emotion on seeing them because I had been thinking that if I was going to die, I wanted to see my parents, my partner and daughter before I went.
“Now my priorities have changed and I make sure I take the time to eat properly and exercise.
I encourage other women to take heart disease seriously and find out how they can reduce their risk. I’d also urge everyone to learn the warning signs of heart attack as it may just save your life or the life of someone you love.”
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4 Responses to this article
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JessB June 21, 2012
I’d love to hear about the warning signs your Mum recognised Dreena, what were they? It’s so easy to tell ourselves that what we’re feeling is something minor and will pass, and not recognise that we need help.
Good on your mum, and good on you!
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Dreena June 21, 2012
Hi Jess, I had all the classic symptons showing, nausea, sweating, shortness of breath but I didn’t know anything at the time. My Mum just knew it was serious (as mum’s do) so she came straight away and the Ambulance not long after. I also had stress at the time, was over weight and had a family history, so as I say “a hamburger with the lot!” I concentrate on what I can change, such a diet and exercise, rest and not to stress like I was, 4 years down the track and 30 kilos lighter I want to let everyone know to take time out for themselves and have a check up.
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Anne June 22, 2012
I’m so pleased you wrote this article, Dreena. As well as the symptoms you mentioned, did you feel any pain or tightness anywhere? I am interested that you appear to have had a heart attack without pain.
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Christine July 12, 2012
I too always thought heart attacks were for old people until at 43 I now know this ongping symptom which was very suttle indigestion was a lead up to the heart attack. I considered myself healthy not overweight, normal cholsetrol, BP eat healthy food so i was very surprised when one day at work I had massive heat pain, sweating, nausea resulting in heart attack lucky for me i was at work my work collegues insisted on calling an ambulance 1 week in hospital detected a tear in one of my arteries.So as much media attention as possible to alert women to the signs id=s a great thing,
